Unitary sheet metal tie-clip



Aug. 20, 1963 R. .1. BURNISTON UNITARY SHEET METAL TIE-CLIP 2Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 14, 1961 4.215 of Lena INVENT 0R. Raymond JBurmsfon 1963 R. J. BURNISTON 3,100,922

UNITARY SHEET METAL TIE-CLIP Filed April 14, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 azz'sofbezd f 11 flab IN V EN TOR.

Raymond J Burniston United States Patent 3,100,922 UNITARY SHEET METALTHE-CLIP Raymond J. Eurniston, Madison Township, Oid Bridge, N.J.,assignor to The Thomas dz Betta (10., Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation ofNew Jersey Filed Apr. 14, 1961, der. No. 102,978 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-73)The invention relates to improvements in deformable sheet metal clips,adapted to be detachably secured to apertured or perforated panel-boardsor the like, in a row in spaced relation for supporting a plurality ofseparate insulated wire conductors in bunched parallelism.

More specifically, the invention relates to a unitary strip metaltie-clip which is adapted to have an intermediate portion thereof, whichis bent upon itself in multiple layer formation, inserted through asuitable sizeannular opening in a panel-board or the like, and to besubsequently automatically secured in said opening by the expansion ofits folded intermediate end within said opening, in response to wrappingthe free opposite end portions thereof toward each other about aplurality of bunched wire conductors for supporting the same on saidpanel board.

Prior art devices of this character were open to the objection that theyare complicated, not readily secured to or removed from an aperturedpanel-board or the like, not adapted for blind aperture assembly withsuch panelboards, not secured or removed without a suitable tool, andwhich are more expensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a unitary sheetmetal tie-clip which obviates the above noted disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary metal tie-clipas herein described which is particularly adapted to be detachablysecured to an apertured panelboard or the like without the aid of nuts,bolts, screws or rivets and without the aid of any kind of tool.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary metal tie-clipas specified which is automatically secured in blind apertures,apertures which are accessible only from one side 'of a panel-board orthe like, detachable therefrom and reusable, and which may be opened andclosed to insert or remove insulated wire conductors therein ortherefrom without detaching the tie-clip from a panel-board or othersupporting member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a onepiece, insulatedmetal tie-clip as specified, which is detachably secured to an aperturedor perforated panel-board or the like simply with finger tip pressure onthe extended free end portions thereof to close the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a onepiece, insulatedmetal tie-clip as specified, which is brought into clinched engagementwith one side of an apertured or perforated panel-board or the like, bythe separation or spreading of its reversely folded inner end uponbending its opposite free end portions on and about a bundle of bunchedwire conductors to be supported thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a onepiece sheet metaltie-clip as described which is insulated with a spray or dip coating ofhighly polymerized, flexible plastic compound or the like and adapted tobe detachably secured in and to electrical appliances, automobiles,electronic equipment, chassis or frames thereof and apertured orperforated panel-boards or the like, for tying and supporting aplurality of insulated wire conductors in bunched parallelism therein orthereon.

With the above and other objects in view, the inven- 'tion resides inthe novel construction, combination, and

arrangement of parts, the novel features of which are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims, the invention itself, however,both as to its organization and method of operation, together withadditional objects and advantages thereof, being best understood fromthe following description of a specific embodiment thereof, when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, showing a pair of tieclips, constructedin accordance with the invention, as secured on a panel board forsupporting and tying a plurality of insulated wire conductors in bunchedparallelism thereon;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the improved tieciip in openposition, showing its reversely folded intermediate portion inserted inan aperture provided therefor in a section of panel-board or the like,preparatory to expanding or separating its inserted end. portion intoclinching relation with said panel-board;

FIG. 4 is a similar elevational view, partly in section, illustratingthe manner in which the free end portions of the tie-clip are broughttogether to expand or separate its folded or bent intermediate portioninto clinched relaiilcin with the rear face of an apertured panel-boardor the 1 e; FIG. 5 is a similar elevational view, partly in section,illustrating the manner in which a plurality of small, insulated wireconductors are placed between the extended free end portions of thesecured tie-clip, preparatory to tying them down by bending the extendedfree end portrons of the clip down on the conductors in oppositedirections;

'FIG. 6 illustrates a front view in elevation, of the improved tie-clip,showing the extended free end or tie portions or" the clip as bent at aslight angle out of alignment or parallelism, to facilitate wrapping theextended tieportions in opposite directions about a bundle of conductorsin side by side relation;

FIG. 7 illustrates an open side edge view in elevation of the tie-clip,in which the extended free ends or tie portions of the clip are providedwith a sheet of insulation material cemented on the inner faces thereof;

FIG. 8 is a front view in elevation of the open insulated tie-clip shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the same;

FIG. 10 is an edge view in elevation of the open tiec-lip as driven intoa wooden member, whereby the clip is permanently secured thereto by theseparation of its bent intermediate portion in the grain of the wood;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view or" a modified form of the tie-clip inopen position, showing the extended free end portions thereof formedstraight and reduced in width along opposite margins thereof, to permitwrapping said end portions on and about a bundle of wire conductors inparallel side by side relation as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the same; and

FIG. 13 is a front view of the modified form of tieclip, showing thesame as initially secured in an apertured panel board with its extendedend portions off-set in parallel alignment.

Referring to the drawings and to FIGS. 1 through 6, in particular theimproved tie-clip, indicated generally at 10, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,by way of example, as utilized with an apertured or perforated panelboard 12, for detachably securing a plurality of insulated wireconductors 14, in bunched parallelism thereon along a row of spacedannular openings 16, therethrough.

In accordance with the invention, the improved, unitary tie clip 15 isformed from a narrow strip of deformable sheet metal, such as steel forexample, having a predetermined length, for each of a series ofdifferent size tieclips to be produced, and in which the width of suchmetal strips is suitably reduced for a predetermined distance centrallythereof as at 18. In forming the-tie-clip 10, the

' V ingside by side spiral relation as in FIG. 1.

at 24, to provide a pair of folded portions or legs 26, in

contacting alignment and connected by the initially bent portion 2%, thelegs 26, constituting the expansible or separable means wherebytthetie-clip vltl, is secured to the panel board 12. 7 Further'in accordancewith the invention, each of the extended half-end portions 22, of thefolded metal strip is'provided with integral means for separating thelegs as, in the form of an arcuate or substantially semi-circular bond28, at a point substantially between the initial bend Ell, and one ofthe second bends '24, to provide a heel or camming mcansthereon adaptedto rock or have angular movement on the opposite side faces 3d of theinitially bent central portion ll, to deflect the legs 26, in oppositedirections'in response to movement of the half-end portions 22, of thetie-clip toward each other, as illustrated in FIG. 4,1 whereby themulti-folded end portion of the tie-clip it forming the legs 26, isdetachably secured in a suitable aperture 16, provided therefor in apanel-board 12, or the like. 7

Further, in accordance with the invention and as best shown in PEG. 6,the extended end portions 22, ofthe tie-clip 19, are each provided witha transverse bend or crease 32, formed at an acute angle to the axis ofthe V 6, to facilitate the bending of the extended end portions 22,toward each other into wrapped down position about a bundle ofconductors 14, for example, in by-passrounded free ends 34 of theextended end portions 22, of the tie-clip 1d, are each bent inwardlyslightly to impart a fully wrapped down position to the said endportions 2 2, when bent down on and around a bundle of conductors 14, asshown in FIG. 2. 7

Further, in accordance with the invention, the tie-clip shown in FIGS. 1through 6, is provided with a corrosion protective coating ofinsulation, not shown, by spraying or dipping the same in a highlypolymerized, flexible plastic compound. Alternatively, the sheet metalfrom which the tie-clip forming strips are blanked out, may be providedon one side thereof, in selected areas, with a suitable Finally, the

the formation of the tie-clip 19, shown in FIGS. 11, 12

and 13, is the same as in the preceding figures.

In the use of the herein described tie-clip 10, the reversely bent endportion thereof, comprising the partially separable anchoring means, isextended through a suitable aperture 16, of annular or otherconfiguration and of substantially corresponding size, provided thereforin a panel-board 12, or the like, and the opposite extended free endportions 22, thereof bent toward each other,

short of closed position, whereby the legs 26, comprising the saidanchoring means, are partially separated into arcuate paths in oppositedirections to secure the tieclip lltl, to the panel'board 12. it is tobe noted that the distance between the initial central bend 20, and thereverse bends 24 in said anchoring means, is such that the spreading ofthe legs 26 Will not open the central bend 20, and thus precludepossible breaking of the tie-clip.

After a desired number of tie-clips have been so attached to anapertured panel board or fixed support, a

' plurality of wire conductors 14, arranged in bunched insulationmaterial secured thereon or bonded thereto by means of a'suitableadhesive or the like, whereby the tieclip strips struck-out from'thesheet metal will have one side of their opposite end portions 2 2 facedwith a covering or layer of insulation material as indicated at 36, in

H68. 7 and 8 to protect the conductor engaging surfaces of the tie-cliplid, against corrosion, the insulation cover-v ing on said conductorsagainst abrasion and the like, and to impart dielectric protection tosaid tie-clips to obviate the possibility of shorting a circuit when inuse with such electric conductors.

In a modified form of the tie-clip re, as illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12and 13, the metal strip is blanked out from plain sheet metal stock in aslightly difieren-t pattern or outline in which the oppositely extendedhalf-end portions 22, of the metal strip each have a major portion ofone of their mraginal edges undercut, as at 38, to reduce the widththereof, the undercut marginal edge portions 38,

' occurring on opposite margins of the strip whereby the extended endportions 22, of the completed tie-clip 10, may

be folded toward'each other in parallel, clearance or pass- 7parallelism are inserted between the partially closed extended'free-endportions 2 2, of the tie-clips 11?, and said end portions finallyWrapped down on said conductors.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily apparent'tha't theinvention provides a unitary tie-clip for tying and supporting a bundleof wire conductors'on a panel board or the like in which the closedfree-end portion 22 thereof, may be subsequently opened sufiiciently toremove one or more conductors from the bundle or to add additional wireconductors thereto without removing the tie-clip from the panel-board.

While the invention has been illustrated and described.

with respect to several embodiments thereof, it is to beexpressly'understood that further modifications may be made thereinWithout departing from the inventive concept underlying the same.Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except as'is necessitatedby the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. A unitary tie-clip comprising a sheet metal blank in strip form bentupon itself centrally of its length forming superposed half-endportions, said end-portions being each reversely bent upon itselfadjacent said first. named bend, said reverse bends each terminating inan arcuate outward bend extending said half-end portions in oppotionstoward each other to partially closed position, said half-end portionsadjacent said arcuate bends being each provided with a transverse bendat anacute angle to the axis of the bends forming said anchoringelements whereby said half-end portions are adapted to be bent'towardeach other in angularly off-set, by-passing relation to form a closedloop, and a uniform coating of a flexible plastic insulating compound onsaid tie-clip;

2. A tie-clip comprising a strip of metal having an accordion-likepleated portion centrally of its opposite ends, said pleated portionterminating in an arcuate bend on each opposite side thereof extendingthe free end portions of said strip inopposite directions and adapted topartially open said pleated portion in response to partial angularmovement of the free end portions of said strip toward each other toclosed position, said free end portions of said strip being eachprovided adjacent its arcuate bend with a transverse bend at an acuteangle to the axis of bends in said pleated portion whereby said free-endportions are adapted to be bent toward each other in off-set side byside relation to form a closed loop, and a layer of insulation materialbonded to the inner faces of the extended free end portions of saidtie-clip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6Dunkelberger et a1 Mar. 23, 1948 Michalenko Dec. 7, 1948 Flora Oct. 24,1950 Poupitch Apr. 22, 1952 Holton Aug. 18, 1960 Balhach et a1. Feb. 21,19611 Shy May 2, 1961 Englis et a1 Aug. 29, 196 1 FOREIGN PATENTS GreatBritain Feb. 4, 1959

1. A UNITARY TIE-CLIP COMPRISING A SHEET METAL BLANK IN STRIP FORM BENTUPON ITSELF CENTRALLY OF ITS LENGTH FORMING SUPERPOSED HALF-ENDPORTIONS, SAID END-PORTIONS BEING EACH REVERSELY BENT UPON ITSELFADJACENT SAID FIRST NAMED BEND, SAID REVERSE BENDS EACH TERMINATING INAN ARCUATE OUTWARD BEND EXTENDING SAID HALF-END PORTIONS IN OPPOSITEDIRECTIONS AT AN ANGLE LESS THAN AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID BENT PORTIONSOF SAID STRIP, THE SAID BENT PORTIONS OF SAID STRIP FORMING SUPERPOSEDANCHORING ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO BE PARTIALLY SEPARATED ANGULARLY INOPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID HALF-END PORTIONSTOWARD EACH OTHER TO PARTIALLY CLOSED POSITION, SAID HALF-END PORTIONSADJACENT SAID ARCUATE BENDS BEING EACH PROVIDED WITH A TRANSVERSE BENDAT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE AXIS OF THE BENDS FORMING SAID ANCHORINGELEMENTS WHEREBY SAID HALF-END PORTIONS ARE ADAPTED TO BE BENT TOWARDEACH OTHER IN ANGULARLY OFF-SET, BY-PASSING RELATION TO FORM A CLOSEDLOOP, AND A UNIFORM COATING OF A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC INSULATING COMPOUND ONSAID TIE-CLIP.